Fire re-sign forward Patrick Nyarko

CHICAGO, IL (April 5, 2011) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Thursday that the club has re-signed Ghanaian forward Patrick Nyarko. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Keeping Patrick with the Fire was a big goal of ours over the last year,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “With his speed and ability to change pace, he’s shown to be one of the most threatening attackers in MLS over the last few years and is key to our attack.”

Selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, Nyarko heads into his fifth season in Chicago as one of the most experienced players on the Fire roster with 99 games played since his rookie year. Following his initial season in MLS, the Virginia Tech product became an integral part of the Fire, with his 90 regular season appearances being the most of any Fire player the past four seasons while also leading the club with a combined 19 assists from 2010-11.

Originally selected as a forward, the fleet-footed 26-year-old has shown the ability to play on either wing but it was his move back up front with fellow country man Dominic Oduro midway through last season that propelled the Fire to the brink of the MLS Cup playoffs and the second best finish in club history at 7-2-1.

Nyarko recently began his international career, earning his first cap while playing 45 minutes for Ghana in a 1-1 draw against Chile on February 29 in Chester, Penn.